I have had a ton of trouble with my meds (Lamictal) for over six weeks. I will write more about that in a future blog. Right now it’s essential that I keep up with work and life to the best of my ability. When a person gets sick due to the illness- it’s sometimes about meds, about life or just the illness itself acting up. For the past ten years my goal has been to work no matter what my brain is doing. It’s hard. Very hard sometimes. But it is possible. Sometimes a person can only work at half capacity- but that is just how it is. It’s interesting- mood swings don’t affect the quality of my work- they just make it difficlut to..
1. Get started.
2. Keep going.
3. Get it done.
That’s all. Ha ha. I have sayings that I use when the day is tough- You can do it Julie! Just sit down and get started! It doesn’t matter if it feels good or not- what matters is that you get it done! Today- I say- Just plunge in and do it Julie! So I am. All that matters is the outcome.
What about you? Julie
I tell myself that whatever I accomplish is good enough. Sometimes I’ll take it 5 minutes at a time, sometimes more, and sometimes it has to go down to 1 minute. But through it all I keep telling myself “just 5 more minutes, you can at least do that.”
I really like what you say here “It
What most caught my attention in the above post were the words, “Sometimes a person can only work at half capacity.” I think it’s helpful to recognize when we are having a half-capacity day, accept it, and not expect more than 50% out of ourselves – or less. – author of Blessed with Bipolar
Hi Richard, I totally agree. I always say that I at least got things done to the best of my ability. Feel free to add any tips you have for others. We all have our ways of coping! Julie
Hi Sheri, I remember when I was first diagnosed with bipolar in 1995- just getting out of bed was a task. I couldn’t work at all and really felt like I would be sick forever. Then things got better and now I know how to manage the illness. My symptoms are worse now – but my management is so much better!
You are right about just taking things minute by minute. I’ve found that doing something for five minutes will often jump start a project that I can then finish with relative ease. Such as blog entries! Julie
What do you do at 4:00 am when your skin is crawling from head to toe and you would love to be able to fall sleep just to escape? Due to family and work issues, since the holidays I have been some up but mostly depressed and kinda suicidal (if there is such a thing). Last week I was crying throughout my doctor’s appt.
Now for the last 4 days I have become more and more agitated up to last night. Everything is so uncomfortable it is hard to stand it and after I HAD to get out of the bed for the 3rd time at 4:00 am, my husband says “Don’t stay up late – it is not good for you”.
It is now still going on. This bad is new for me and I really want it to end. I would welcome any suggestions to help get through it. Thanks
Hi Julie ! re:getting it done at 50%….one of the things thats important here is how much we work with others. I don’t find it hard to (well I’ve gotten used to it) tolerating my own inadequate functioning, but others do!! I had to quit my retail job and it also had a bad impact on my marriage (I’m now happily seperated). Idealy we can have enough control over our work situation to be able to adjust our schedules and work to our own capacities but sometimes its not the reality….its probably for the best to just avoid jobs like that…how blessed we are if we don’t have to do them!! (I’m thinking Olympic athlete, air traffic controller, surgeon etc;))